West Platte Loses Lead in Seventh, Takes Second at State

(O'FALLON, Mo.) After falling a game short of a Class 2 State Basketball Championship, West Platte's boys of spring had a chance for redemption Thursday.

The Blue Jays carried a one-run lead into the seventh inning, but a bang-bang play at first went Hartville's way as they defeated the Blue Jays 4-3 in the Class 2 State Baseball Championship.

West Platte (22-2) sent freshman McKauley Stephenson to the mound for the biggest start of his young career after Logan Moose carried the team to a 5-1 semifinals win. Stephenson took the loss after allowing three runs while striking out six.

The Eagles jumped on top with a pair of runs in the first inning thanks to some shoddy defense by the Blue Jays. They carried that 2-0 lead in to the second frame, where the players endured a rain delay that lasted over an hour.

Freshman Lucas Horseman came on with the bases loaded in the fifth, down 2-1, and knocked a two-run double down the left-field line to put West Platte on top 3-2.

Still leading by one in the seventh, Moose came on to close out the title. The senior quickly gave up the tying run before Kevin Prock stepped to the plate with two outs. The Eagles' senior slapped a chopper to third and beat the throw to first to allow the game-winning run to cross.

The Blue Jays' 22 wins are a single-season program record.

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